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Determination of critical low light limit and adaptive physiological and biochemical traits regulating growth and yield of mustard (Brassica juncea Coss.)

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Abstract

Growth and physio-biochemical traits under different incident solar light intensities (100, 67, 50 and 25%) were studied in mustard in a semi-arid agroclimate region of Central India. Our comprehensive studies revealed that incident solar light intensities below about 67% were highly detrimental in mustard for its growth and grain yield. Major factors that contributed to the differential responses under varying light intensities were identified which holds importance for better understanding of low light adaptability in an important oilseed crop like mustard. Biomass index (ratio of dry biomass to height) has been established and evaluated for the differential growth performance of the crop under different light intensities. Biomass index progressively declined from 0.48 (open sunlight) to 0.11 (25% sunlight). Physio-biochemical factors were identified that were playing major role in manifestation of the differential growth and grain yield. Mustard exhibited its low light adaptive trends through differential down-regulation in the rates of net CO2 assimilation (PN), stomatal conductance, transpiration, thylakoid electron transport rate (ETR) and leaf wax level. For example, PN decreased from 35.88 (open light) to 11.64 µmol m−2 s−1 (25% sunlight). Photochemical events showed critical impact as evidenced by decreased PSII quantum yield, photochemical quenching (qP) and higher non-photochemical quenching (qN) that were clearly associated with physiological efficiency of the plants under varying light intensities. Leaf wax level decreased from 1.69 mg g−1 fresh weight (open light) to 0.96 mg g−1 fresh weight (25% sunlight). Our results indicated that limited ETR supply across photosystem II (PSII) decreased the photochemical efficiency and carbon gain under low light which resulted in reduction of biomass index and grain yield. Besides, it was found that overexpression of protein band around ~ 26 kDa in low light could be another adaptive feature for mustard related to light harvesting complex. Our findings would augment selection of traits for optimizing growth and grain yield of mustard for low light or light limiting agro-ecosystem.

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Abbreviations

Antho.:

Anthocyanin

Chl:

Chlorophyll

ETR:

Thylakoid electron transport rate

E:

Transpiration rate

Gs:

Stomatal conductance

LT:

Leaf temperature

PN :

Net CO2 assimilation rate

PPFD:

Photosynthetic photon flux density

qP:

Photochemical quenching

qN:

Non-photochemical quenching

RH:

Relative humidity

Rubisco:

Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase

ST:

Soil temperature at surface

SST:

Sub soil temperature

Ta:

Air temperature

ΦPSII :

Effective PSII quantum yield

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Acknowledgements

All the necessary facilities for the experiments provided by the Director, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi are greatly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Gwalior Road, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, 284003, India

    Badre Alam, Rashmi Singh, Mayank Chaturvedi, Ram Newaj & O. P. Chaturvedi

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  1. Badre Alam
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  2. Rashmi Singh
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  3. Mayank Chaturvedi
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  4. Ram Newaj
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  5. O. P. Chaturvedi
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Correspondence to Badre Alam.

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Alam, B., Singh, R., Chaturvedi, M. et al. Determination of critical low light limit and adaptive physiological and biochemical traits regulating growth and yield of mustard (Brassica juncea Coss.). Physiol Mol Biol Plants 24, 985–992 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-018-0537-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-018-0537-0

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